Terpene dimer varnish and ink formulations and related methods of manufacture

Abstract

An ink vehicle composition is provided comprising a polymeric type resin binder component and a terpene dimer oil. In an alternate embodiment the compositions further include an additional oil selected from linseed oil, soya bean oil, tung oil, or other oils having drying characteristics defined by an Iodine value greater than 120. Advantageously, the compositions contain a reduced amount of petroleum distillate solvent and lower volatile organic compounds (VOC) than conventional ink vehicles. As an ink vehicle the compositions are further incorporated into ink formulations. The varnish compositions are also used as an overprint varnish on a substrate surface.

I claim: 
     
       1. An ink vehicle composition comprising: a resin binder component and a terpene dimer; wherein said resin binder is selected from the group consisting of esters of rosin, modified esters of rosin, modified hydrocarbon resins produced from hydrocarbon monomers containing from about 5 to 15 carbon atoms, and unmodified hydrocarbon resins produced from hydrocarbon monomers containing from about 5 to 15 carbon atoms.   
     
     
       2. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising an additional oil selected from the group consisting of linseed oil, soya bean oil, tung oil, and other oils having Iodine values (ASTM D 1959-85) greater than 120. 
     
     
       3. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising a gelling component. 
     
     
       4. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the gelling component is a mixture of an organo-aluminum compound and a solvent. 
     
     
       5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein said gelling component is 50% of an oxyaluminium acylate compound and 50% of a petroleum distillate solvent. 
     
     
       6. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising a solvent. 
     
     
       7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein said solvent is a petroleum solvent and is present in the composition up to 50 wt. %. 
     
     
       8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said resin binder is present in the range of 20-70 wt. %. 
     
     
       9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said terpene dimer is present in the composition up to 80 wt. %. 
     
     
       10. The composition according to claim 2, comprising: 20-70 wt. % of said resin;   up to 40 wt % of said terpene dimer   up to 40 wt % of said additional oil; and   0-5 wt % of a gelling component.   
     
     
       11. A lithographic printing ink having the property of drying into a hard tack-free film upon exposure to air comprising an ink vehicle composition according to claim 1 and an ink solvent. 
     
     
       12. An overprint varnish composition having the property of drying into a hard tack-free film upon exposure to air comprising: a resin binder component and a terpene dimer; wherein said resin binder is selected from the group consisting of esters of rosin, modified esters of rosin, modified hydrocarbon resins produced from hydrocarbon monomers containing from about 5 to 15 carbon atoms, and unmodified hydrocarbon resins produced from hydrocarbon monomers containing from about 5 to 15 carbon atoms.   
     
     
       13. The composition according to claim 12, further comprising an additional oil selected from the group consisting of linseed oil, soya bean oil, tung oil, and other oils having Iodine values (ASTM D 1959-85) greater than 120. 
     
     
       14. The composition according to claim 12, further comprising a gelling component. 
     
     
       15. The composition according to claim 14, wherein the gelling component is a mixture of an organo-aluminum compound and a solvent. 
     
     
       16. The composition according to claim 15, wherein said gelling component is 50S of an oxyaluminium acylate compound and 50% of a petroleum distillate solvent. 
     
     
       17. The composition according to claim 12, further comprising a solvent. 
     
     
       18. The composition according to claim 17, wherein said solvent is a petroleum solvent and is present in the composition up to 50 wt. %. 
     
     
       19. The composition according to claim 13, wherein said resin binder is present in the range of 20-70 wt. %. 
     
     
       20. The composition according to claim 13, wherein said terpene dimer is present in the composition up to 80% wt. %. 
     
     
       21. The composition according to claim 13, comprising: 20-70 wt. % of said resin;   up to 40 wt % of said terpene;   up to 40 wt % of said additional oil; and   0-5 wt % of said gelling component.   
     
     
       22. A process for producing a varnish composition comprising: combining a resin binder component with a terpene dimer to form a mixture;   heating said mixture until all said resin is dissolved to form the varnish;   wherein said resin binder is selected from the group consisting of esters of rosin, modified esters of rosin, modified hydrocarbon resins produced from hydrocarbon monomers containing from about 5 to 15 carbon atoms, and unmodified hydrocarbon resins produced from hydrocarbon monomers containing from about 5 to 15 carbon atoms.   
     
     
       23. The process according to claim 22, wherein at least one additional oil selected from the group consisting of linseed oil, soya bean oil, tung oil, and other oils having Iodine values (ASTM 1959-85) greater than 120 is added to said mixture. 
     
     
       24. The process according to claim 22, wherein after said resin is dissolved a gelling component is added. 
     
     
       25. The process according to claim 24, wherein said gelling component is a mixture of an organo-aluminum compound and a solvent. 
     
     
       26. The process according to claim 25, wherein said gelling component is 50% of an oxyaluminium acylate compound and 50% of a solvent. 
     
     
       27. The process according to claim 22, wherein said mixture further includes a solvent. 
     
     
       28. The process according to claim 27, wherein said solvent is a petroleum solvent and is present in the composition up to 50 wt. %. 
     
     
       29. The process according to claim 22, wherein said mixture comprises: 20-70 wt. % of said resin and up to 80 wt % of said terpene dimer. 
     
     
       30. The process according to claim 29, wherein up to 5 wt % of a gelling component is added to said mixture. 
     
     
       31. The process according to claim 23, wherein said mixture comprises: 20-70 wt. % of said resin; up to 40 wt. % of said terpene dimer and up to 40 wt. % of said additional oil. 
     
     
       32. The process according to claim 31, wherein up to 5 wt % of a gelling component is added to said mixture.